Page 54 - SAMENA Trends - September-October 2020
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REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES  SAMENA TRENDS

        the region are aiming to accelerate their   tasks.  Saudi Arabia  is  forecast  to  spend   voices to share knowledge and insight on
        existing  digital transformation efforts   the highest  on enterprise  IT in the GCC   the rapidly evolving outsourcing landscape
        to  meet  customer and business  needs,   region this year, at $5.8 billion, followed by   and will be  hosting another  digital panel
        whereas only 23 percent plan to slow down   the UAE with $5.3 billion. Dubai Outsource   discussion soon.
        or stall these initiatives to focus on core IT   City regularly brings together key industry




        Bahrain to Boost the Digital Economy


        Bahrain is well on track to upgrade  the telecommunications  sector as
        part of its goal to further develop the country’s digital economy. During
        AN  s  online weekly  Cabinet meeting,  chaired by  His  Royal  Highness
        Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme
        Commander  and First  Deputy  Prime Minister, the Fifth National
        Telecommunications  Plan,  which  outlines  the  government’s  general
        policies and strategies regarding the telecommunications sector during
        the next three years. The plan includes completing the development of
        the national broadband network,  extending  its  coverage to all  homes
        and in situations at fair and reasonable prices, achieving full equality in
        the provision of services and enhancing the role of Bnet in developing
        infrastructure for optical fibers. It further aims to enhance competition
        within  the  mobile  telecommunications  sector,  spectrum  and  fifth
        generation,  and to provide international connectivity  to and from Bah-
        rain, as well as to further develop the Kingdom’s digital economy. HRH   HRH the Crown Prince chairs the weekly Cabinet meeting
        the Crown Prince issued directives to ministers and government agencies
        to expedite their responses  to questions  and requests  received  from  enhancing the role of Bnet in developing infrastructure for
        the Council of Representative and Shura Council  committees,  in  order  optical fibers. It further aims to enhance competition within
        to  further  enhance co-operation  between  the executive  and legislative  the mobile telecommunications sector, spectrum and fifth
        branches. The Cabinet also reviewed the Electricity and Water Authority’s  generation, and to provide international connectivity to and
        performance and efficiency regarding the production, transmission and  from Bah- rain, as well as to further develop the Kingdom’s
        distribution  of electricity  and water during  the  summer  months. The  digital economy. HRH the Crown Prince issued directives
        memorandum submitted by the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs  to ministers and government  agencies  to expedite  their
        also outlined the measures and preparations taken by the authority to  responses  to questions and requests received from the
        rationalize the use of electricity, in addition to projects that contribute  Council of Representative and Shura Council committees,
        to increasing reliability  and ensuring  current and future development  in order to further enhance  co-operation  between  the
        projects receive their required resources. The Cabinet praised the EWA for  executive and legislative branches. The  Cabinet  also
        its efforts producing, distributing and transporting electricity and water.  reviewed the Electricity and Water Authority’s performance
        Bahrain is well on track to upgrade the telecommunications sector as part  and efficiency regarding the production, transmission and
        of its goal to further develop the country’s digital economy. During online  distribution  of electricity  and water  during  the summer
        weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman  months. The memorandum submitted by the Minister of
        bin Hamad Al Khalifa,  the Crown Prince,  Deputy  Supreme Commander  Electricity and Water  Affairs  also  outlined  the measures
        and First Deputy Prime Minister, the Fifth National Telecommunications  and preparations taken by the authority to rationalize the
        Plan,  which  outlines  the  government’s  general  policies  and  strategies  use  of electricity, in addition  to projects  that contribute
        regarding the telecommunications  sector during the next three  years.  to  increasing reliability  and ensuring  current and future
        The plan includes completing the development of the national broadband  development  projects  receive their  required  resources.
        network, extending its coverage to all homes and in situations at fair and  The Cabinet praised the EWA for its  efforts  producing,
        reasonable prices, achieving full equality in the provision of services and  distributing and transporting electricity and water.




        UAE Expects Full 5G Coverage By 2025


        The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of the United   wave (mmWave) spectrum to cellcos Etisalat and Du which they
        Arab Emirates  (UAE) says  it  expects  all  inhabited  areas  of the   will use to complement their existing 3.5GHz 5G services. 1GHz of
        country to be covered by 5G wireless networks by the end of 2025.   the higher band frequencies will be handed out this month, with a
        The  watchdog  recently  allocated  24.25GHz-27.5GHz  millimeter   second tranche made available in the third quarter of 2021.

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